Audi Will Not Produce a Gasoline Variant of Its New Flagship Sports Car: TDS
The Audi Concept C was showcased during its debut in Milan on Tuesday.
Good morning, and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.
TDS is, as my colleague Joel puts it, “tight, right, and light,” delivering the major auto industry news from around the globe in one easy-to-digest package. It’s said to pair well with coffee, and I wouldn’t argue against that, but if you prefer tea, that works too.
Now, let’s dive in.
⚡ Audi has confirmed to Motor1 that the Concept C sports car, set to begin production in two years, will only be available as an EV, with no option for an internal combustion engine. If it shares a platform with Porsche’s upcoming electric 718 replacements, the Boxster and Cayman might face a similar fate.
🇯🇵 Reports indicate that Japan and the U.S. are close to finalizing an agreement to reduce tariffs on cars from Japan from the current 27.5% to 15% by the end of this month, according to Reuters. If this occurs, the new rate would take effect 10 to 14 days after President Trump signs an executive order.
🏁 Ford Performance has rebranded as Ford Racing. The company states this change aims to better align its motorsports initiatives with its high-performance road vehicles, and the “first production vehicle from this new Ford Racing approach will launch this January." They might even bring back some retro liveries featuring that ’90s logo popular on vintage tees.
📈 In August, the Honda Prologue surpassed both the Odyssey and Passport in sales, driven by effective promotions. The automaker sold 9,347 units of the Blazer EV twin, setting a monthly record, significantly outpacing the Odyssey with 6,690 units and the Passport with 5,173.
🇩🇪 The replacement for Porsche’s ICE Macan, which will share a platform with the new Audi Q5, is reportedly set to feature a front-biased all-wheel-drive system, marking a significant departure from the brand’s traditional approach.
📉 Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is reportedly experiencing its “slowest annual growth in five years,” having internally lowered its 2025 sales goal from 5.5 million vehicles to 4.6 million, as cited by Reuters from multiple sources. The company faces rising competition from emerging rivals, including Leapmotor and Geely.
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Audi Will Not Produce a Gasoline Variant of Its New Flagship Sports Car: TDS
The Audi Concept C, set to launch in 2027, will be offered only as an electric vehicle, despite the company's decision to retract its commitment to exclusively electric vehicles.